Machine for mending knitted fabrics



S p 6, 1933. L. P. BRILEY 1,928,168

MACHINE FOR ENDING KNITTED FABRICS Filed July 31, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Lulu P. Briley A itomey Sept. 26, 1933. L. P. BRILEY MACHINE FUR MENDING KNITTED FABRICS 6 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed July 51, 1929 x sk Inventor Layla P. Brzle By Attorney Sept. 26, 1933. 1.. P. BRILEY I IACHINE FOR MENDING KNITTED FABRICS i e u y 31, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- v Inventor Lulu P.Brz'Zey Sept. 26, 1933.

Fil July 31, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A iiorney Sept. 26, 1933. L. P. BRILEY 1,928,163

MACHINE FOR MENDING KNITTED FABRICS Filed July 31, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invenior Lulu P. Brz Zqy A itorney Sept. 26, 1933. L. P. BRILEY MACHINE FOR MENDING KNITTED FABRICS Filed July 31, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOB MENDING KNITTED FABRICS Lulu P. Brlley, Cashing, Okla, assignor of onehalf to Joseph D. Stevens, Cashing, Okla.

Application Ill! 31, 1929. Serial No. 382,473

8 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for mending knitted fabrics, such as hosiery, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is the production of a foot or power operated machine that is compact, portable and capable of mending fabrics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature especially adapted to 1.0 the repair of runs in silk stockings, although it applies as well to breaks in the stitches of sweaters and other crocheted and knitted fabrics.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature whereby a stocking can be quickly and easily repaired and restored to its original condition at a very low cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature wherein the skill required to operate the machine is easily acquired with a little practice.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature, having associated therewith suitable means for stretching the goods as it is fed to the stitch making mechanism so as to insure a neat stitching operation and the machine being further provided with a magnifying glass whereby one may readily and easily follow the stitching operation of the machine without undue strain being placed upon the eyes of the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,

economical in maintenance, thoroughly reliable, practical, eflicient, positive in operation, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine looking from the right in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of Figure 8 Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 9.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the stretcher arms.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, of the guide block of the stretcher arm.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the anchoring blocks for the spring member of the stretching mechanism.

Figure 8.is a bottom plan view showing in full lines the connecting mechanism between the drive shaft of the machine and the feed mechco anism.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 with the feed mechanism and the connecting members between the feed mechanism and the driver shaft of the machine shown in broken lines. 5

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken through the arm of the machine illustrating the operating mechanism for controlling the feed member from the drive shaft of the machine.

Figure 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 11-11 of Figure 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 taken on line 12l2 of FigurelO.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the eccentric strap and the roller sup ported thereon.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view of the top end portion of the eccentric strap.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the control block for controlling the movement of the eccentric strap.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the needle.

Figure 17 is a detail side elevation at the base of the machine illustrating the application of the stretcher member on the base.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the needle holder.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the adjusting bolts for the stretcher device.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of one of the springs of the stretcher device.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the supporting member for the lower end of the needle holder.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the magnifying glass and supporting frame therefor.

Figure 23 is an end elevation of the machine looking at the machine from the left in Figure l, and showing the same having associated therewith a detachable stretcher device.

Figure 24 is a perspective view of the detachable stretcher device.

Figure 25 is a perspective view of one of the curved arms of the stretcher device shown in Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a perspective view of one of the cloth engaging members of the detachable stretcher device.

Figure 27 is a detail view showing the manner of assembling the cloth engaging member to the arm of the detachable stretching device.

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved machine comprises a work supporting base 5 from one end of which rises the usual hollow arm construction A, which arm construction comprises the hollow cylindrical vertical post. B and the horizontal portion C which portion C terminates in an enlarged head or casing D. A horizontal drive shaft 6 extends through the horizontal arm portion C and this shaft has one end thereof joumalled in a bearing 7 formed at the juncture of the post B and arm C, the outer end of said shaft 6 journalled in a suitable bearing '7' located inthe forward end portion of the horizontal armportion C.

The bearing 7 is provided with a suitable oil hole 8 for lubricating the same, while the bearing '1 is provided with a similar oil hole 8' for the same purpose.

Splined to the rear end of the shaft 6 in any suitable manner is the usual :tly wheel 9. At its opposite end the shaft 6 terminates within the head D and onthis end of the shaft is a crank arm 10, said crank arm being adjustably mounted on the shaft through the medium of the set screw 11 which extends through the crank arm to bite into the shaft 6. 12 designates an eccentric which is operatively connected with the crank arm 10 as at 13 for actuation by said crank arm during the rotary movement of the shaft 6. A connecting rod 14 has one end thereof fixed as at 15 to the pin 16 of the eccentric 12 as shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 23. -At its lower end theconnecting rod 14 is provided with a laterally extending clamp 17, which clamp 17 engages the upper end of a vertical shaft 18.

A vertical shaft 18 is slidable up and down in a guide 19 formed in a laterally projecting arm 20 extending from the lower end of the head or casing D. A fulcrum arm 21 is fixed as at 22 to depend from the bottom of the head D as shown to advantage in Figure 1. A substantially L-shaped bracket 23 is pivoted at the juncture of its arms to the lower end of the fulcrum arm 21 as at 24. The arm 25 of the member 23 is pivotally connected as, at 26 to the lower end of the shaft 18.

The arm 27 of the member 23 is provided with an elongated slot 28. The purpose of this slot will be hereinafter more fully set forth. Extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower end portion-of the casing D is a pair of spaced arms 29, each of which aims are provided with an elongated slot 30.

A needle holder designated generally by the reference character 31 comprises a body block 32, through which block one end of a needle supporting bar 33 extends. A head block 34 is bolted or otherwise secured as at 35-to one face of the block 32 and this head block-is provided with an opening 36 extending therethrough. A bolt 37 passes through the opening 36 and through the slots 30 in the arms 29 for adjustably supporting the holder 31 upon these arms. Thus it will be seen that the needle holder 31 is held at an angle with respect to the base 5 and to the shaft 18, and that by sliding the block 34 longitudinally of the arms 29 the holder may be angularly adjusted with respect to the base 5 and the shaft 18.

The needle holding bar 33 is provided with an elongated slot 33' extending for the full length thereof, and at its forward end the bar 33 is provided with a collar 38 in which is threaded a set screw 39. A needle designated generally by the reference character 40, the construction of which is shown to advantage in Figure 16 and will be hereinaftermore fully described, is adapted to be secured in a manner hereinafter fully set forth to the needle holder bar 33.

Adjacent its forward end the needle bar 33 is provided with a guide roller 41, which roller 41 is operable in the slot 28 of the arm 2'7 of the member 23 for supporting the lower end portion of the needle holding bar 33 in its adjusted angular position.

The needle 40 consists of a shank 42, which at one end terminates in a hook 43. A latch 44 is pivoted as at 45 to the shank of the needle and said latch cooperates with the hook 43 in a manner conventional with needles of this type, and in a manner well known in the art, during reknitting or mending operation. The shank portion of the needle 40 is adapted to rest'in the slot 33' of the needle holder bar 33, and intermediate its ends the shank 42 of the needle is provided with'a fiat face 46, so that obviously the set screw 39 in the collar 38 will bite into this flat portion of the shank of the needle for holding the needle in an adjusted position on the needle holder .bar 33.

At its upper topmost portion the casing D is provided with a lateral extension 47, which extension 47 is provided with an opening through which is extended the upper end of a presser foot bar 48, said presser foot bar at its upper end being provided with a thumb or finger gripping head 49. At its lower end the presser foot bar 48 is substantially forkedas at 50. Presser feet 51 are secured as at 52 to the extremities of the legs of the fork 50, and as shown in these presser feetextend one to each side of the needle 40.

A laterally extending arm 53 projects from the presser foot bar 48 at a point on the arm above the laterally extending shoulder or arm 20 at the lower end of the casing D. A cam lever 54 has its cam head pivoted as at 55 to one side edge of the casing D, and is operable between the shoulder 20 and the arm 53. A coil spring 56 is mounted on the presser foot bar 48, and one end of this coil spring 56 impinges against the arm 53 and at its opposite end the spring 56 impinges against a collar or washer 57 fixed to the presser foot bar 48 adjacent the upper end of the bar.

Obviously, by raising or lowering the cam lever 54 the head being movable about its pivotal connection between the arm 20 and the arm 53 of the bar 48 will cause a raising or lowering movement of the presser foot bar 48 for raising or lowering the presser feet 51 toward or away from the base 5.

On its forward end, intermediate each of the presser feet 51, the base is suitably slotted as at 58-58 and as clearly shown to advantage in Figures 8 and 9. Adapted for reciprocatory movement back and forth in these slots is a suitable double feed member 59 for feeding the article to be mended longitudinally of the base, for bringing the work in engagement with the needle in the conventional manner. The manner of operating this feed member in unison with the operation of the needle will be hereinafter presently described.

Attention is now best directed to Figures 10, 11 and 12, wherein as illustrated, it will be seen that the shaft 6 is offset to provide a crank 6'. An operating bar 60. is vertically disposed in the vertical portion B of the arm A. To support the is provided as shown in Figure 1 a rocker arm operating bar 60 so that the same is capable of oscillatory movement, or in a substantially semicircular direction, there is provided in the base 5 a screw 61, whose inner end is recessed for the reception of the pointed end 62 of the said operating bar 60. At its other end the bar 60 is recessed and a screw 63 threaded in-the arm A has its pointed extremity receivable in this recess.

Extending laterally from the bar 60 adjacent its upper end is a pair of arms 64, which arms terminate in right angularly disposed upwardly extending spaced parallelarm portions 65, which arm portions 65 straddle the crank 6 of the shaft 6. Obviously then, rotation of the shaft 6 will bring the crank first into contact with one of the arms 65 and then into contact with the other of the arms 65 for imparting semi-circular rotaryv motion to the shaft or operating bar 60. The bar 60 at its upper end and in alinement with the arm portion 65 is provided with a loop 66, through which the shaft 6 extends.

Secured to the operating bar 60 at its lower extremity is a crank arm 6'7, which crank arm 6'7 is operable in an arcuate slot 68 formed in the base 5. A link 68 is pivotally connected at one end as at 69 to the rocker arm 67, and at its opposite end said link 68 is connected as at 69' to the lower end of a worm '70. The worm '70 is rotatably supported on the lower end of an angular bracket post '71, which post '71 depends from the base 5 in operative relation to the doublefeed member 59, as shown to advantage in Figure 23.

Thus it will be seen that when the actuating bar 60 moves in a semi-circular direction and in a reciprocatory manner the rocker arm 67 will be rocked to cause oscillatory movement of the link 68 back and forth for rotating the worm '70' in an oscillatory manner. An eccentric 72 is fixed as at '73 to the drive shaft 6 rearwardly of the operating bar 6. An eccentrically operated member '73 has its legs '74 at its forked upper end straddling the eccentric '72, said legs '74 being operable in a groove '72 extending circumferentially about the eccentric '72. At its lower end the member '73 extends through and is operable in a slot '74 in the work supporting base 5.

Obviously rotation of the shaft 6 will cause a rocking movement of the member '73 substantially transversely of the base 5 within its slot '74. Adjacent the slot '74 and depending from the base 5 is a suitable bracket member '75. A bellcrank '76 is pivoted to the lower end of thebracket '75 and this bellcrank '76 has one arm thereof fixed to the lower end of the member '73 as at 7'7, the other arm of thebellcrank '76 being pivoted as at '78,-to one end of a =link "19.

As shown to advantage in Figure 1, the connecting link '79 at its opposite end is pivotally connected as at 130 a rocker arm 81, which rocker arm 81 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 82 to a bracket 83 depending from the base 5 adjacent the forward end of the base. A second link 84 is pivotally connected as at 85 to the other end of the rocker arm 81, while at its opposite end the link 84 is connected to the double feed member 59 as at 86. Thus it will be seen that the feed member 59 is reciprocated back and forth in its slots 58 through the medium of the link '84, rocker arm 81, the link connection '79, bellcrank '76, and the member '73, upon rotation of the shaft 6 in an apparent manner.

In order to raise and lower the feed member 59 as is necessary in the stitching operation, there 8'7 which is pivoted at one end to a suitable fulcrum member 88. At its free end the rocker arm 8'7 is provided with a roller secured thereto as at 88 which operates in the slot '70' of the worm '70. At said end, the rocker arm 8'7 is further provided with an obliquely extending slot 89 within which slot works a roller secured as at 90 to one end of an arm 91, the opposite end of said arm 91 being secured as at 92 in a pivotal manner to the double feed member 59, the arm 91 thus providing an operating connection between the arm 87 and the feed member 59, whereby through the reciprocating movement of the worm '70 the feed member is raised and lowered in its slot 58 for an obvious purpose.

From the foregoing then, it will be seen that the feed member 59 is operable in timed relation, with respect to the operation of the needle. Threaded through the member '73 andadjacent the upper forked end thereof is a screw 93, which screw 93 is also threaded through a locking block 94 extending laterally from one face of the member '73. On its outer end the screw 93 is provided with a smooth reduced extremity 95 for rotatably supporting a roller 96.

A screw 9'7 is threaded through the rear wall of the arm post B and on the inner end of this screw is an adjusting block 98. The block 98 is provided with a slot 99 and the roller 96 projects within this slot 99 for a purpose to behereinafter more fully set forth. Depending from the bottom face of the block 98 is an extension 100 and from the lower end of this extension there projects a pin 101. A screw 102 is threaded through a side wall of the post B and at its inner end this screw 102 is provided with a circumferentiall-y extending slot or groove 103 within which groove extends the pin 101. Obviously, when the screw 102 is threaded in or outwardly of the post B, the slotted block 98 will be rocked or tipped to assume a position such as illustrated in Figure 12 and in such a manner that by the movement of the eccentric '72 the roller 96 will be forced to slide back and forth in the slot 99 of the block 98, thus imparting 'to the member '73 a perpendicular up and down movement which is necessary for the proper rocking movement of the bellcrank '76.

A pair of elongated spreader arms 104 are adapted to be disposed one to each side along the opposite longitudinal edges of the base 5.

As shown to advantage in Figure 5, these arms are curved at one end inwardly toward one another so as to conform to the curved forward end of the base 5. Projecting inwardly from the inner face of each of the spreader arms 104 and in spaced relation are a pair of slide arms 105. These slide arms are slidably received in suitable brackets 106 provided therefor and secured to the under face of the base 5 adjacent the outer longitudinal marginal edges of said base. (See Figures 8 and 9.)

A .pair of spaced guide blocks 10'? are fixed to the underface of the base 5. Engaging each of the guide blocks 107 are tension springs 108, which springs are curved at their ends to provide oppositely extending extremities 109 and 110 respectively. The springs have their curved extremities 110 anchored in slots 112 formed in the guide blocks 10'? adjacent opposite ends of the said blocks. The ends 110 of the springs are slidable in grooves 113 formed between the inner face of the said spreader arms 104 and the inner angular ends of the slide arms 105.

As shown to advantage in Figures 8 and 9, there are four of such tension springs 108 and these springs are arranged in pairs so that two of each have their ends anchored to one of the blocks 107 and their opposite ends slidable in the groove 113 with the result that an even outward pressure will be exerted upon the respective arms 104 adjacent the ends of the arms as is apparent.

An elongated adjusting screw 114 extends longitudinally of the base 5, and said screw at one end is rotatably supported in a suitable bracket 115 at the rear end of the base member 5, while at its forward or inner end the adjusting screw 114 is rotatably and slidably supported in a central opening or aperture 116 formed in each of the guide blocks 107. The adjusting screw 114 is provided at its forward end with right hand threads 117 while inwardly from its said end it is provided with left hand threads 118.

Wedges 119 are each threaded on the right and left hand threaded portions respectively of the screw 114 and these wedges are adapted to be positioned between the respective springs of each pair of springs at these ends of the springs which are anchored to the guide blocks 107 as clearly shown to advantage in Figures 8 and 9. Obviously, therefore, by rotating the adjusting screw 114 the wedges 119 will move longitudinally of the screw toward or away from one another for adjusting the tension of the springs 108.

Obviously then the stretcher arms 104 may be moved toward and away from one another and from .the adjacent edges of the base 5 so as to produce the desired stretch in the material being stitched.

In Figures 23 to 27 inclusive I have shown another form of stretching device, and as therein illustrated the stretching device comprises a pair of cooperating arms 120 and 121 respectively. Each of the said arms comprises a shank portion 122, which shank portion at its upper end is curved laterally and upwardly as at 123. The arm 121 has its shank 122 at the opposite end offset to provide a handle 124. Intermediate its ends the member 121 is provided with a lateral extension 125. The member 120 has its shank offset as at 126, and is then bent at right angles to the offset 126 so as to provide a handle 127. At its offset 126 the member 120 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the lateral extension 125 of the member 121 as at 128.

A'segment bar 129 is fixed at one end to an intermediate portion of the handle 124 while at its other end said quadrant 129 is movable through an opening 130 in an intermediate portion of the handle 127 of the member 120. A pivoted latch or detent 131 is suitably fixed on the handle 127, adjacent the opening 136, said detent 131 adapted to engage with the teeth of the quadrant 129 so that when said handles are moved toward or away from one another upon their pivotal connection 128 said handles may be maintained in the desired adjusted position with respect to one another, while consequently the upper laterally and upwardly extending portions 123 of the respective members will be adjusted toward or away from one another as may be desired for obtaining the desired stretch to the work.

The portions 123 of the respective members at their upper extremities terminate in lateral extensions 132. Plates 133 are slidably supported on the lateral extensions 132 of each of the ends 123 of the said members 120 and 121 respectively.

These plates have their inner opposed ends bent upwardly at right angles and then inwardly upon themselves to provide hook-like extremities 134 for engagement with the cloth to be stretched, while at their opposite ends the plates 133 are bent downwardly and inwardly to provide a hooklike extremity 135 which engages with the edge of the base 5 as fully shown to advantage in Figure 23.

At this hooked end 135 each of the plates are downwardly bent as at 136, the downwardly bent portions or extremities 136 being apertured as at 137 through which aperture 137 extends the lateral extensions 132 of the respective end portions 123 of said stretching members. Coil springs 138 are disposed about the lateral extensions 132 and these coil springs have one end thereof impinging against themovable portion of the arms 123, the opposite ends of said springs being suitably anchored to the extension 136 of said plates 133, this normally urging the plates outwardly toward-the extremities of said lateral extensions.

Obviously, when the stretcher device just described is disposed as shown in Figure 23, the hooked extremities 135 will engage with the sides of the base 5 and the cloth which is disposed over the base and between the presser feet 51 will be engaged with the hooked extremities 134 of the plates with the result that bymoving the arms 124 and 127 inwardly toward each other or outwardly away from one another the hooks will be adjusted with respect to one another so as to stretch the material as desired and needed for producing a neat stitch or mend to the article being mended, which in this case may be a stocking, which would be slipped over the base 5, the base being receivable within the stocking and then the stocking being engaged and stretched by either the first mentioned stretcher arms 104 or when desired and according to the material being mended by the hooked end portion 134 of that stretching device illustrated in Figures 23 to 27 inclusive.

For the purpose of enlarging the fabric thread and also the delicate needle, there is provided a magnifying glass 139 mounted between the forward end portion of the legs'of a substantially U-shaped frame 140. Formed integral therewith and extending beyond the bight portion of the U-shape frame is an attaching arm 141, which arm is provided with an elongated slot 142. The U-shap'ed frame 140 is disposedforwardly "of the lower end of the casing or head D and the attaching arm 141 extends along one side of the said casing. The magnifying glass is of course suitably mounted between the arms of the frame to permit the tipping of the glass either forwardly or backwardly, while a thumb screw 143 passes through the slot 142, and this thumb screw is threaded into the side of the casing D as shown to advantage in Figures 23 and 1.

Mounted on the thumb screw are a pair of washers 144, there being one washer to each side of thefattaching arm 141 of the frame, said washers 144 having 'their inner opposed faces preferably corrugated so as to provide a gripping surface for contact with the adjacent faces of the said attaching arm 141 of the frame. For main taining the corrugated bases of the washer against the frame arm 141 there is provided a coil spring 145, one end of which impinges against the head of the thumb screw while the other end of the coil spring impinges against the adjacent washer 144, thus urging the washers 144 and the arm 141 inwardly in contact with one another and against the side wall of the head D.

In the contemplation of the present invention,

the machine constructed according to the present invention is of a type adaptable for that method of mending runs" in stockings and the like, which consists in the utilization of a latch equipped needle that is adapted to successively loop forming operation. In this connection, it will be seen that the needle has the necessary movements transmitted thereto upon rotation of a shaft 6 by reason of the mechanism herein described in detail, and the fabric is fed in the required manner during the reknitting or mending operation through the medium of the feed member 59 which is operation in timed relation to the actuation of the needle from the shaft 6 to the mechanism also hereinbefore described in detail. The method is herein referred to only so far as is necessary to bring out the purpose of the invention, the method being well known in the art.

Obviously by raising or lowering the frame or pushing the same forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the forward end of the head D the same may be adjusted to any angle with respect to the needle and the forward end of the base 5 so as to enable the operator to readily follow the stitching operation.

It is believed that a knowledge of the operation, construction, and advantages of the machine will be apparent .to those skilled in this art from a study of the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and a more detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine for mending knitted fabric, a work supporting base, a horizontal drive shaft rotatably supported on said base, a presser foot, means for slidably supporting said presser foot at right angles to said base and at the forward end of said shaft, means for raising or lowering said presser foot toward or away from said base, a needle, means for supporting said needle angularly with respect to said base, means operatively connecting said needle with said drive shaft, for effecting a stitching movement of the needle, said base having a slot formed therein adjacent the effective end of said needle, a worm rotatably supported beneath said base adjacent said slot, a feed member having back and forward movement and adapted for movementinto and out of said slot, a rocker arm, means operatively connecting said rocker arm with said drive shaft, means operatively connecting said rocker arm with said feed member for effecting a backward and forward movement of said feed member, a secondrocker arm, means operatively connecting said second rocker arm with said drive shaft, means operatively connecting said second rocker arm 'withsaid worm for imparting an oscillatory thereof adapted for movement in the slot of said worm, said last mentioned rocker arm being further provided at its free end with a slot, a fourth rocker arm operatively connected with said feed member, said last mentioned rocker arm having at its free end a roller mounted thereon, said last mentioned roller adapted for movement in the slotof the third rocker arm whereby upon the oscillatory movement of said worm said fourth rocker arm will be actuated for moving said feed member into and out of said slots, during the back and forward movement of said feed member, as e and for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for mending knitted fabric, a work supporting base, a horizontal drive shaft rotatably supported on said base, a presser foot, means for slidably supporting said presser foot at right angles to 'said base and at the forward end of said shaft, means for raising or lowering said presser foot toward or away from said base, a needle, means for supporting said needle angularly with respect to the base, means operatively connecting said needle with said drive shaft, for

effecting a stitching movement of the needle, said base having a slot formed therein adjacent the effective end of the said needle, a worm rotatably supported beneath said base adjacent said slot, a feed member having back and forward movement and adapted for movement into and out of said slot, a rocker arm, means operatively connecting said rocker arm with said drive shaft, means operatively connecting said rocker arm with said feed member for effecting a backward and forward movement of said feed member, a second rocker arm, means operatively connecting said second rocker arm with said drive shaft, means operatively connecting said second rocker arm with said worm for imparting an oscillatory movement to said worm, a third rocker arm pivotally mounted beneath said base, said third rocker arm having a roller on the free end thereof adapted for movement in the slot of said worm, said last mentioned rocker arm being further provided at its ,free end with a slot, a fourth rocker arm operatively connected with said feed member, said last mentioned rocker arm having at its free end a roller mounted thereon, said last mentioned roller adapted for movement in the slot of said worm whereby upon oscillatory movement of said worm said fourth rocker arm will be actuated for moving said feed member into and out of said slots, during the back and forward movement of said feed member, a pair of stretcher arms, means for supporting said stretcher arms one to each side of said base for engagement with the work on said base, spring means for normally urging said arms outwardly away from the adjacent sides of said base, means for controlling the tension of said spring means, said last mentioned means being adjustable.

3. An apparatus for repairing runs in knitted fabrics comprising in combination,- a pivoted angular bracket, supporting means therefor, a needle holder engageable intermediate its ends with one arm of said bracket and movable relative to said one arm, a vertically movable shaft, said bracket having a second arm pivotally connected to said shaft, rigid means for supporting one end of said needle holder, and means 'for reciprocating said vertical shaft.

4. An apparatus for repairing runs in knitted fabrics comprising in combination, means for operatively supporting a needle with respect to means comprising a vertical head member, supporting arms extending outwardly and down-- wardly therefrom, a needle holder, means for adiustably retaining said holder on said arm at an angle relative to the vertical, said needle holder including a slotted needle holding bar for accommodating the shank of the needle, a substantially L-shaped bracket member pivoted at the junction of its arm at the lower end of said vertical supporting shaft, said bracket member having one of its arms provided with a slot, said needle holding bar provided with a roller operable in said slot, a vertically movable shaft mounted in said head, and said L-shaped bracket having the other arm thereof pivoted to the lower end of said shaft, and means for reciprocating said shaft.

5. In an apparatus for repairing runs in knitted fabrics, means for forming a loop in each fabric thread which causes the run to be repaired, and for drawing each successive loop through the loop formed in the preceding cross thread, said means including a needle, and means for supporting the needle at an angle to the vertical in an operative position to the work, said supporting means comprising an angular bracket, means for pivotally supporting said bracket, a needle holder, means operatively connecting said holder with one arm of said bracket for movement relative to said one arm, additional means for supporting one end of the holder remote from the work, a vertically movable shaft, and said angular bracket having the other arm thereof pivotally connected to said shaft and means for reciprocating said shaft.

6. An apparatus for mending runs in knitted fabrics comprising in combination a vertically disposed head, a needle holder, a pair of arms extending downwardly and rearwardly from said head, means for adjustably mounting said needle cally movable shaft mounted in said head, and

said angular bracket having a second arm pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft, said shaft adjacent said lower end being forked, a presser foot on each leg of said fork, said presser feet being disposed one to each side of the effective and of the needle in said needle holder, and means for reciprocating said shaft.

7. A machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics comprising in combination a loop forming needle, means for feeding the work past the needle, a holder for said needle, a support for said holder, means for securing said holder on said support in a predetermined adjusted position for positioning said needle at a predetermined angle relative to the perpendicular, a'pivotally mounted member, means operatively connecting said needle holder with said pivotally mounted member for shifting said needle holder relative to said pivotally mounted member upon movement of said member about its pivot, and means for effecting movement of said member about its pivot.

8. A machine for mending knitted fabrics comprising in combination a relatively fixed head, a shaft mounted for vertical movement in said head, an angular bracket pivoted at one end to said head, and at its other end to said shaft, a-

needle, a holder for said needle, supporting means for said needle holder, and means operatively connecting said holder with said bracket.

LULU P. BRHJEY. 

